Armed Forces: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 57 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, what progress he has made in establishing an independent review board akin to the US Defense Health Board, in order to assure ecosystem readiness.
Answered by Ministry of Defence
The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recognises Ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) must have direct access to information on the collective readiness of Defence, the NHS, and private healthcare to meet the demands of warfighting and other strategic health emergencies. Further, the SDR recommends an independent review board should assure ecosystem readiness, reporting periodically to Ministers, the Defence Board, and Parliament.
MOD and DHSC have established the Defence and Health Strategic Board to provide strategic oversight and direction for health-related defence activity across Government and other partners. This includes delivery of commitments arising from the SDR as well as wider health and defence priorities.
The Board brings together senior leaders from MOD and DHSC, the Devolved Administrations, NHS England and key partners to ensure the UK health system is appropriately prepared to support national defence objectives in peacetime, crisis and conflict.
Work is underway to include independent members on the Board and determine the reporting mechanism to ensure Ministers in both departments have direct access to information on the collective readiness of Defence, the NHS, and private healthcare.
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